Past comes back to haunt poster boy Clegg

Nick Clegg was embarrassed on live radio today when interviewer Justin Webb pointed out that before the last election the Liberal Democrats issued leaflets that went even further by promising a choice of quitting the European Union altogether.

The Lib-Dem leaflet, headlined “It’s time for a REAL referendum on Europe”, carried a big picture of Mr Clegg, and quoted him promising a vote “on Britain’s membership of the European Union”.

It argued: “It’s been over 30 years since the British people last had a vote on Britain’s membership of the EU... But Labour don’t want the people to have their say. The Conservatives only support a limited referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Why won’t they give the people a say in a real referendum?”

Readers were encouraged to sign a petition and send it to Lib-Dem party HQ.

The pamphlet is thought to have been issued in marginal seats to divide local Tories rather than nationwide.

Challenged on the BBC’s Today programme, Mr Clegg said: “I’m not going to comment on leaflets I haven’t read.” He insisted what mattered was the 2010 manifesto, which promised an in-out referendum only if there was a major treaty change affecting Britain.